Indian emigrants, mostly from the Punjab province, began arriving on the Pacific coast of Canada and the US in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A large number of those emigrants were Sikhs from India. These muscular, semi-skilled Indian workers found employment in industries that require hard work, such as sawmills, logging camps, and railway construction.
The Canadian Pacific Railroad was active throughout this era in recruiting and transporting unskilled Asian laborers to Canada. Immigrant arrivals in India rose sharply, from 258 in 1904 to over 5,000 in 1908, creating apprehension on the part of white immigrant workers who were rivals in the cheap labor market.
In 1908, the Canadian government passed 2 Orders in Council to reduce the trend of Indian immigrants. These were
1. Immigrants required to be in possession of US$200 at the time of arrival
2. Established a non-stop travel provision.
These measures effectively reduced immigration from India to Canada.
In 1951 the proportion of immigration based on nationality was established. The 1967 Immigration Act continued the policy of variable entry into Canada, but prohibited injustice on the basis of race, colour, nationality or ethnicity. The Departments of Manpower and Immigration were merged at this time to ensure that immigration policies served the needs of the Canadian economy.
Finally, the 1976 Immigration Act defined 5 objectives of Canadian immigration law:
1) Support the fulfillment of the demographic goals.
2) Strengthen the cultural and social fabric of Canada.
3) Facilitate the meeting of Canadians and their close relatives.
4) To protect against discrimination.
5) Execute humanitarian obligations with respect to the displaced and persecuted.
By 1984, 7% of Canada’s population was made up of immigrants from Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Today, Canada receives a large proportion of Indian immigrants each year, and Indians enjoy a high standard of living in Canada.
